Universal quick-thaw torch



L'W. MOSS.

UNIVERSAL QUICK THAW TORCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3, 1919.

Patented May 25, 1920.

MPE STATES JOSEPH W. MOSS, OF BEACON, NEW YORK.

UNIVERSAL QUICK-TI-IAW TORCH.

Application filed December 13, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn: lV. Moss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beacoln in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Quick-Thaw Torches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torch or burner attachments which are dc signed to spread the flame of a gasolene blow torch over an extended area and to confine the heat about a pipe for the purpose of thawing ice therein.

It is common practice for plumbers to use a blow torch to thaw frozen water pipes moving the flame from point to point over the frozen area. This is a slow and waster'ul method owing to the fact that only a small percentage of the heat of the flame is concentrated upon the pipe.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for the ordinary plumbers torch which will not only spread the flame along the pipe but also causes it to follow around the contour of the pipe, heating it upon all sides. The spreader casing forms a reverberatory housing for the flame reflecting and directing it upon the pipe as well as constituting a heating chamber in closing a large portion of the pipe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevationcof a gasolene blow torch having attached to the burner a flame spreading device embodying my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views on the lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of my attachment.

My flame directing and heat concentrating attachment is adapted to be secured to the burner tube 4: of an ordinary blow torch 5. The heating chamber and reverberatory housing comprises a tubular casing 8, having closed ends 9 provided with an arcuate recess on one side conforming to.

the circular contour of the pipe, a longitudinal section of the casing being cut away to form an opening for the reception of the pipe 10. Extending centrally from the easing opposite said opening is a tubular stem 12 adapted to slip over the end of the torch burner & and be secured by a set screw 14 or in any other suitable manner. The casing wall about the opening both along the sides and at the ends 1s serrated, forming a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1%)20.

Serial No. 344,716.

series of channels between the teeth 15 for the passage of the flames. This is an important feature of my invention as it provides a means for distributing the flames uniformly along the pipe. The casing not only confines the flame issuing from the burner and forms a heating chamber but the arched inner wall reflects the heat and flames downwardly upon the pipe thus constituting a reverberatory housing and causes the flames issuing through the passages between the teeth to follow around the contour of the pipe. 1

It is desirable that the housing should be adjustable to adapt it to difierent sized pipes and for this purpose I provide an auxiliary side member 17 of arcuate shape to conform to the curvature of the inner wall of the housing. This auxiliary member may be adjusted'in or out of the casing to enlarge or diminish the size of the opening and may be secured in position, by means of set screws 18 which operate in slots in the wall of the housing.

The advantages of my thawing attachment for blow torches will be especially appreciated by plumbers since it greatly enhances the efliciency of the flame not only because it spreads the flame over a greater area but also because it confines the heat and concentrates it and by reason of the reverberatory efl'ect produced by the inner arcuate walls, the flames are caused to follow the contour of the pipe as they pass through the channels between the serrated edges of the side and end margins. While I have described in detail the particular construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of clearly disclosing an embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. A water-pipe thawing attachment for blow torches. comprising a tubular casing having closed ends and a longitudinal opening adapted to extend over a portion of the outer surface of a pipe, the marginal edges adjacent said opening being provided with. projections or serrations to engage the pipe and a tubular extension projecting from the casing opposite said opening and adapted to be secured to the burner tube of a blow torch.

2. An attachment for blow torches as defined in claim 1 and adjustable means for varying the size of the opening to adapt the casing to pipes of different diameters.

3. A water-pipe thawing attachment for blow torches, comprising a tubular casing having closed ends and a longitudinal opening adapted to extend over a portion of the outer surface of a pipe, the marginal edges adjacent said opening being provided with 10 projections or serrations to engage the pipe,

an arcuate member conforming to the curvature of the casing adj ustably secured to move outwardly or inwardly to ary the size of said opening, and a tubular extension projecting from the casing opposite said opening and adapted to be secured to the burner tube of a blow torch.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

JOSEPH W. MOSS. 

